INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES

6-10

Authors: Chandirasekar R*, Uthayakumar V, Anitha E, Mekala S, Mathivanan S, Raghadevi M

Tobacco use is the world’s leading cause of death, it is estimated that around 4.9 million deaths occur annually due to tobacco, and it is expected to rise to about 10 million by 2030. The use of smokeless tobacco in most of its forms possesses a substantial oral cancer risk at least in the developing countries where they are closely linked to socio cultural conditions. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the cytogenetic and genotoxic changes in smokeless tobacco users. About 156 smokeless tobacco users have been enrolled and categorized into two groups on the basis of duration of their habit and equal number controls have been enrolled with age and sex matched non-tobacco users. We observed alteration in the incidence of chromosomal anomaly and micronuclei frequencies among the exposed and controls subjects by using the peripheral blood cells and buccal cells. The smokeless tobacco users exhibited varied levels of damages than non-users and predominantly in group II subjects with the higher duration of habit. In conclusion, use of smokeless tobacco for a longer duration caused more damages in comparison short term use and controls and awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use is very low in rural populations.

17-24

Authors: Ragadevi M, Chitra E, Jayasurya K, Sakthivel M, Uthayakumar V, Chandirasekar R, Sreedevi PR, Ramasubramanian V, and Sivasankar V

In the present study hepatoprotective activity of fish oil against alcohol induced hepatic damage in albino rats was evaluated. Hepatic injury was induced by administering 3 mL of 40% alcohol orally. The levels of liver marker enzymes such as ALT, AST, ACP, ALP, LDH, SGPT, SGOT and GGT significantly increased (P<0.05) in alcohol induced hepatic injury group when compare to control. But, when the rats are administered with the combination of Eel fish and Cod liver oil mixed standard diet, the levels of liver marker enzymes showed a better reduction than in rats administered with standard diet (control) and Eel fish oil standard diet. The level of DNA damage was assessed by Comet assay and the Mean Tail Length and Mean Tail Movement was found to be significantly lower (P<0.05) in rats administered with alcohol plus Eel and Cod liver oil mixed standard diet in comparison with control (standard diet) and Eel fish oil mixed standard diet groups. The number of micronucleated hepatocytes was significantly reduced in rats administered with Eel and Cod liver oil mixed standard diet (0.3616±0.04633) than in standard diet (1.4426±0.30871). On the whole, our study concludes that, oral administration of Eel and Cod liver oil reversed the alcohol induced hepatic injury and thus it can be used as a hepatoprotective agent.

31-40

Authors: Chaudhary Ruchira, Sairkar Manisha and Sairkar Pramod

MTCYB gene produces a protein which is a component of respiratory chain complex III. This gene is also important in phylogenetic relationships between and among species. Presently many hereditary carcinomas are also associated with the alterations of this gene. The aim of the current study is to develop primers for amplification and sequencing of complete human mitochondrial cytochrome b (CYTB) gene and use of the FTA card for isolation and preservation of mitochondrial DNA. DNA from 6 blood samples were isolated by the phenol chloroform method as well as by the FTA card method which was further used for the PCR amplification and sequencing process. Novel human mitochondrial cytochrome b (CYTB) gene specific primers (two sets) were designed and examined for amplification and sequencing. DNA trapped on FTA cards and DNA isolated by the phenol chloroform method produced a brighter clear band of approximately 1320 bp with both designed primers. During sequencing reverse and forward primers of both primer sets were produced good quality DNA sequence and prepared consensus sequences covers complete cytochrome b (CYTB) gene. Whatman FTA Classic card was successfully used for storage and amplification of Human mitochondrial DNA as well as, two sets of Human mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) gene specific novel primers namely MVM-MT-Cyb-01 and MVM-MT-Cyb-02.

49-59

Authors: Ningthoujam Sonia, Myrene R Dsouza and Alisha

Parkia speciosa Hassk. (Petai or Stink bean, Family Fabaceae) is a traditio-nally consumed medicinal plant for liver disease, oedema, kidney inflame-mation, diabetes and as an anthelmintic. The phytochemical analysis of seeds of P. speciosa in water, methanol and hydromethanolic (1:1) extracts revealed the presence of carbohydrates, amino acid, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, xanthoproteins and phenols. In vitro antioxidant capacity by linear regression analysis was measured by assaying DPPH radical and H2O2 scavenging capacities. Their respective IC50 values were found to be 315.75 μg/ml and 166.63 μg/ml. The hydromethanolic extract gave total phenolic, total flavonoids and FRAP values of 13.54±0.0163 mg GAE/g, 5.46±0.011 mg/g QE/g and 1.9 mM FeSO4 respectively. The IC50 values for in vitro anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated by the following assays: lipoxygenase inhibition (IC50 = 493.34μg μg/ml), proteinase inhibition (IC50 = 1142.3 μg μg/ml) and RBC membrane stabilization (IC50 = 67.01 μg μg/ml) at different concentrations using aspirin as control. Studies were also carried out to assess the anti-diabetic potential by assaying the ability of the plant to inhibit pancreatic lipase and amylase activities. The % inhibition at 500 μg/ml of the plant extracts were found to be 89.5% (for lipase) and 79.2% (for amylase). Antimicrobial activity of the extracts was studied against common pathogens (S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae). The zone of inhibition was observed using well diffusion method.

67-72

Authors: Pradeepa K and Lakshman Kumar B

Among the serious complications people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience, cardiovascular disease heads the list. Having RA doubles the risk of most heart problems, including heart attack, stroke and atherosclerosis - the build-up of fat, cholesterol and cellular debris (plaque) on blood vessel walls. Hence the present study targeted the I/D polymorphism in angiotensin 1 converting enzyme (ACE) gene using Insertion specific PCR and methylation status of angiotensin 1 converting enzyme (ACE) gene using methylation specific PCR in 30 RA patients confirmed by Rheumatoid factor (RF) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) values. ID genotype was the predominant genotype in patients and controls. II genotype was higher in controls compared to patients. Methylation pattern analysis using MS-PCR suggested equal distribution of methylated and unmethylated regions of ACE gene in patients and controls thus suggesting lack of CVD risk. But in order to confirm, a higher sample size needs to be further probed.

77-84

Authors: Chandirasekar R, Uthayakumar V, Anitha E, Mekala S, Mathivanan R, Raghadevi M

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a complex genetic disease, associated with environmental and genetic factors. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) plays an important role in the development of SLE, is expressed in a wide range of tissues including lung, vascular endothelium, kidney, cardiac muscles and testis. ACE gene I/D polymorphisms, particularly the DD genotype has been associated with lupus susceptibility and with risk of renal and cardiovascular disease. This study analysed the ACE gene polymorphic variants among the recruited 48 SLE patients (SLE was confirmed by Anti nuclear antibody (ANA) and dsDNA tests) associated with the cardiovascular and renal disease and 48 controls. The present study also analyzed the biochemical parameters (total serum cholesterol HDL, LDL, VLDL, TGL) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in SLE patients and controls. Our study found that, SLE patients had higher levels of cholesterol (40%) than controls and the and CRP was found to be higher in SLE patients in comparison with controls and established normal reference range (<5mg/L). The distribution of genotype in SLE patients was DD 62.50%, ID 20.83% and II 16.66%. A significantly higher frequency of DD genotype (p<0.0004) was observed in SLE patients in comparison with controls.

91-95

Authors: Babitha Bhaskaran, Sushmitha Shankar and Nagaraj Sonu

The present investigation was carried out to enhance the production of lipase enzyme by genetic modification of the fungi Aspergillus niger by induced mutagenesis (UV irradiation and Ethidium bromide). Aspergillus niger strain was isolated from enriched soil sample and strains were further screened for the production of lipase using Rhodamine plate method. Strain improvement was achieved in presence of Ethidium bromide with concentration of 200μgcm-3 in combination with treatment under UV for 300s which was proved to be effective for enhanced lipase production. The results also indicates that chemical mutagenesis in combination with physical mutagenesis proved to be effective for stain improvement in A. niger. The selected mutant can be considered as a prospective candidate for the production of extracellular lipase for various industrial applications.